DAY 252 -BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE UNITED MONARCHY
Reading: 1 Kings 16:29-34
Today’s devotion looks at Ahab, son of Omri, King of Israel. Yesterday, we asked the question as to whether it could get any worse for the Kingdom of Israel. The answer is yes, it does get even worse. Now that Ahab and Jezebel appear on the scene, we don’t just have idolatrous worship outside of Jerusalem, at one of the two golden-calf idols, we have the worship of Baal and Asherah as well. This brings the exile of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria closer and closer.
Along with Baal and Asherah worship came temple prostitution, child sacrifice and all kinds of occult practises. Ahab stirred up the wrath of the LORD more than any before him. It is really incredible to contemplate the patience of the LORD, since He had the power to inflict death and destruction on Israel at any moment. On the bright side, we begin to read of Elijah the prophet whom the LORD sent to minister to Ahab and Jezebel. In such a dark time, there is hope since the LORD spoke through the mouth of His prophets. The LORD chose to extend grace and the discipline of a three and a half year drought upon the land to bring sanity to the people again.
Prayer
Dear Father, thank You for Your incredible patience and grace. Please send forth Your word to our hearts by Your Holy Spirit lest we bring You grief like unfaithful Ahab.
For the family
For the next two days, watch this video together about the showdown between the Baal worshippers and the worshippers of Yahweh